GIRL IN CARE OF HARROW LBC FAILED BY 10 AGENCIES SAYS REPORT

An offical report into the death of a 13-year-old in the care of Harrow LBC admitted 'significant shortcomings' in ...

An offical report into the death of a 13-year-old in the care of Harrow LBC admitted 'significant shortcomings' in the way her case was handled, according to The Independent (p3).

Aliyah Ismail died of a drugs overdose in a derelict house in Camden, north London in October 1998, after telling a social worker she was working as a prostitute. She had been failed by 10 state agencies which were meant to be helping her, the report concluded. Two senior members of staff at Harrow LBC social services have been suspended pending a disciplinary investigation.

In the Guardian (p8) Mary Ney, Harrow LBC's social services director, admitted procedures were not followed in Aliyah's case.

'There was an option to fast track the process of obtaining a secure accommodation order, but this did not happen.' Mrs Ney said.

The report, published yesterday, was by Maddie Blackburn, an independent child expert, for Harrow Area Child Protection Committee. It accepted dealing with difficult adolescence was not easy.

Finding better ways of collating and analysing information held by different agencies was one of the report's key 18 recommendations.

Problem drinkers and smokers who end up in hospital will be helped by dedicated new services, as part of the new NHS long-term plan, according to those behind the strategy, LGC’s sister title Nursing Times reports .

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